joanchanshufang

2007-01-24T17:10:00.000+08:00

http://www.blogtv.sg/index.php?view=episode&ep=14&PHPSESSID=3fe57675e6e528d538f56a3ce0133dd1

Hi everyone, we really appeal to all of you to help us keep this blog alive. Please send in your stories to joanchanshufang@gmail.com, and also donate generously to the Chan Shu Fang Trust Fund.

Like before, all donations can be made through RGS.

Thanks!

Launch of "Cancer Warriors" Book and CD

2006-09-01T12:42:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

A book entitled " Cancer Warriors" was officially launched yesterday as a tribute to cancer patients- some of whom have won, and others who have won in spirit... This book is written by Stella Thng ( an editor of LIME who came to know Joan during the course of Joan's battle with cancer). She is like a Big sister to Joan and the rest of us and in the spirit of saluting the courageous, she penned this book hoping to help others heal and deal..... Her sister Sally, also a cancer warrior, inspired the birth of this meaningful project which features 23 stories including Joan's.

Accompanying the book is a CD which will officially launch next sat, 9th september. This CD features local artistes like Sun Ho, Electrico etc as well as the song entitled 'Joan'. The charity concert featuring its launch will be held at youth park *SCAPE ( time to be confirmed).

For interested parties who would like to contribute to the cause of raising funds for cancer charities, you can purchase the book and CD at the launch itself. Book is priced at $ 12.90 and CD at $ 14.90... Do show your support and help keep the fighting spirit of Joan, Sally and other cancer warriors alive!!!

Joan's ashes

2006-07-25T12:01:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

Joan's ashes are placed at Church of Saints Peter and Paul's columbarium. The church is on Queen Street and Bugis is the nearest MRT.

The columbarium is at the basement, and please go to St Mark, 04-03 (i.e. fourth row, third from the left).

Thanks.

A Letter from Joan's Mom

2006-06-19T09:25:00.000+08:00

亲爱的朋友,

愿天主的祝福和你永远同在!

这几天我才开始读大家的来信,我一边读一边哭,我哭一方面是想女儿-淑芳( JOAN),另一方面是我太感动了.大家对淑芳的关心和鼓励是那么的源源不断,是那么的爱她.在此,我只能和家人,还有淑芳和你们说谢谢,再谢谢,愿你们和家人都平安,喜乐!

淑芳是我们的宝贝,是主耶稣的珍珠,也是主的新娘.她曾说过,她要成为耶稣的新娘,所以耶稣在天主教徒隆重的庆祝他升天的时刻带着淑芳一起升天了.感谢赞美主!淑芳在生病的这段日子,她把主的话语紧记在心.有一次她痛到大声哭时,过后她却说所有的痛都会过去,唯有耶稣的话永不过去.

淑芳在最后一次从医院回来后,我谢绝了大家的探访.在此我向大家说声对不起,那是因为我希望能有更多的时间和女儿相处,而她的体力也很弱,须要更多的休息.在同时我和淑芳也谢绝一些朋友所提供的药方,不是我们放弃,而是因为癌细胞已无法控制.那时刻淑芳是那么的降服,她把这一切都交给主.她在祈祷时说:主啊,我不知道为什么有些人祢要医治,有些不要,祢如要我好起来,祢会在我身上行奇迹,但我愿听随祢的旨意.

大家都说我和淑芳很坚强,勇敢;其实我们并没有能力去面对.因着主耶稣赐于的力量,我和淑芳才有能力走这段路,耶稣藉着你们把爱给了我们,让我们在痛苦中更勇敢的去面对.

阿肋路亚赞美主!

祝大家:主的祝福满满,安康,喜乐!

美兰(Sharon soh)
Joan chan 淑芳的妈妈

2006-06-04T22:31:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

I'm an ex-RGS girl from the class of 1991, currently based in the US. I came across Joan's story just today, and it makes me glad that RGS is my alma mater. The can-do attitude of Joan and her friends, the warm-heartedness of the school towards one of their own and Joan's consideration for others in setting up the trust fund. I hope that I can do as well when faced with my own challenges.

Very coincidentally, I had just finished graduate school in the US and had received one of the better job offers in my class when I was diagnosed with cancer in August 2005. Like Joan, life pretty much fell apart. I ended up going for 7 procedures and staying in hospital for almost 3 months (Dec 2005 to March 2006) to remove the tumour and repair the subsequent surgical defect. I'm currently in the post-operative stage and expect to live. Through it all, I had received the kindness of many strangers, old friends and former classmates -- amongst them an ex-RGS girl by the name of Teo Meiwan (RGS folks should be able to figure out whom I'm referring to, since she is still quite active around the school). She kept on checking in on me and trying to make sure that I was alright. Even before this bout of cancer, I have had a lot of ups and downs in my life, Meiwan is not the first RGS girl who has made the time and effort to help me through the low points. Even as I am currently trying to rebuild my life, I hope that I can be as gracious and big-hearted as these RGS girls, young and old.

That said, I am also glad that big-heartedness is not the sole preserve of RGS girls. I recall the generosity and initiative of my primary school alma mater and school principal in raising funds for Jonathan Tan, to go to Israel to treat his leukaemia almost 23 years ago. And since then, there has also been other equally heart-warming examples. It is examples like these which remind me not to be too caught up in life's petty moments and strive harder to be a better person.

2006-06-04T22:29:00.000+08:00

My 2nd year NTU In-house Practical Training project buddy's funeral service was quiet. 18 Jan 2006 Wednesday 10.30am. The sun was smiling merrily as we departed from Bishan street 24 to Mandai Crematorium. Family members, relatives, friends and colleagues, maybe about 40 of us were there to send him the last journey.

Standing in front of the viewing gallery, our hearts went with his flower covered coffin placed above an automated trolley rolling slowly towards the crematory oven.

He was a cheerful guy who loved to talk nonsense, intelligient nonsense that were funny enough to roll many on the floor with laughter and honest enough to offend a few serious souls.
Remembering those days when we were staying in the campus halls. Sometimes he would show me his guitar skill when I visited him in Hall 2, and I would sing along familiar songs. Mid-autumn festival, we had tea and mooncakes with a few friends in the room, together with my cousin who is now a mother of 2 boys. Ha! He came one evening to look for me in Hall 9, bombed me with questions on E202, made me so worried because I do not understand what he was asking and the paper was just around the corner. It was fun having him as a project buddy because he was a software expert and I need not sweat a single brain cell to finished the project supervised by Wang Han, a lecturer from PRC who has a research interest in computer image processing. We just liked to cling together during lectures, be it Michael Heng's HRM in MLT or engineering subjects in LT25. My first encounter with Tian1 Dao4 (Heaven's Word), a pretty new "cult" religion, was through him. I was really glad to learnt during his marriage in year 2000 December that he became a Christian.

He looked fat during one of our class gathering a few years back (one of the Chinese New Year season I think) and jokingly I asked if he had a good life after marriage. He was not having a good life. He was suffering from kidney cancer, diagnosed 6 months after his marriage and had one of his kidney removed. Many of his classmates, including myself, were ignorant about his health condition until his death news broken out on Sunday, by our beloved class rep. He passed on Saturday 14 Jan 2006, after fighting with cancer for 5 years. The news hit my sms mailbox while I was rushing the final proofreading and touching up on my dissertation before sending for hardcover binding. Striving for perfection on the dissertation seemed a meaningless task all of a sudden and I did nothing except vegetating on my seat for the next half hour.

Interestingly, I wonder why I did not call him up all these 5 years just to ask about his well being working in Motorola. Pace of life was fast and our friendship was sacrificed in the name of "busy". My diary recorded an sms received from him on 2 Dec 2004 21:29:10 saying "This is my new hp number.". According to his sister, he had stopped cancer treatment during that period as it was already end-stage. I did not call him then. I send him an sms on 8 Sep 2005 informing him of my decision to be a financial planner and would be glad to serve him if he wants insurance or investment alternatives. He called a while later but hung up immediately, leaving a "missed call" indication on my handphone. My morale was rather low then because of rejections I got from my friends... most of them became very busy all of a sudden, don't even have time for a 30 minutes lunch with me. I decided not to call him because I chose to believe that he was deleting my sms but had accidentally pressed the call option. Why such a low self-esteem? Why didn't I just call??!!! My final sms to him was on 1 Jan 2006 morning, wishing him a joyful and blessed life ahead as he opens a new chapter in 2006. He did not reply.

The wooden door closed after the slow moving coffin was fully pushed into the oven. A white rose bud, obviously had fallen off from the coffin, laid quietly on the floor in front of the closed door... it escaped the incineration but was left alone... plays no part fragrancing...

Life starts for a purpose and life ends for a purpose.

Can't bear to delete his number from my phone... Thank Jesus for His promise, we shall meet again in heaven.

jg

2006-05-29T12:55:00.000+08:00

Chan Shu Fang Joan

3 April 1986 to 24 May 2006

Far apart but close at heart.

2006-05-25T21:51:00.000+08:00

Joan's wake will be today and friday below her block:
Blk 825 Yishun Street 81
Her casket will leave for the church at 2pm after a prayer session.
Her funeral mass will be held at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea at 2:30pm.

A Temporary Farewell

2006-05-25T03:42:00.000+08:00

Shu Fang has left us for a better place. She died in her sleep last night. We will remember fondly as the fighter who never gave up, until we meet again.

Update

2006-05-23T22:42:00.000+08:00

Hi all, Shu Fang has been spending most of her time sleeping or watching DVDs at home. As for her condition, there has been no significant improvement or deterioration. However, she has a lot of phelgm now, and has to rely more on a respirator to breathe. Please continue praying for her.

We would like to invite all who have a story about a fight with an illness or a journey with a family member/friend through illness to share to email it to joanchanshufang@gmail.com and we will post it up on this blog. Let us all stand together to support all those who need our prayers.

Also, we are helping Joan manage her trust fund, together with RGS. We would like to ask all students doing community service by raising funds for charity to adopt the Chan Shu Fang fund as their charity to keep the trust alive. Although this is only a tentative idea, please do feel free to direct all questions to joanchanshufang@gmail.com as well.

Thanks very muc.

2006-05-09T00:10:00.000+08:00

we know there are loads of you out there who are eager to help by introducing us to alternative meds or things that might help improve the situation.however, joan wishes to leave and go to heaven soon. we do appreciate everyone's concern but please do respect her wish to go to a better place where she would not be in pain.
joan's family, esp her mum is very glad for all the donations that were given. she is very strong now for joan and we shall all be strong for her as well.
as joan is not taking medicine for cancer, her condition is inevitably deteriorating and she is starting to lose mobility in her right arm. she spends most of her time in bed.we can only pray that it will be painless when she leaves. she has done so much for us all, touched so many hearts and even has a trust fund set up. all of these things were not expected ... she has said before that her mission was to spread the word of God and she did. she has proved that God's love is all around and that there are a lot of kind souls here.
once again, pray for God to take her away with no pain and no suffering. to give her courage. thanks!

Trust Fund

2006-05-06T18:51:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

Here's how to make donations to the trust fund.

Address your cheques to "Raffles Girls' School" and on the back of the cheques, please also write "Chan Shu Fang Fund"

Send the cheques to RGS at 20 Anderson Road, Singapore 259978.

We understand that some of you do not wish to donate to the fund, and would rather donate to her family directly.

In that case, instead of addressing the cheque to "Raffles Girls' School", address the cheque to "Chan Shu Fang Joan" instead, but send the cheque to RGS as well.

Currently, we are not sure how much more money the family needs, but to keep the trust fund alive is Shufang's greatest wish, so that others in need may benefit from it.

Please leave a comment if you have any other queries.

2006-04-30T00:37:00.000+08:00

here's a huge thank you to everyone who made it down to the mass. im sure joan can hear all of our prayers. big thanks to the organisers and to everyone who helped raised an amount of abt $1500 for her family.
and to those who wish to visit her,we're sorry but her mum is not very keen on visitors at the moment. joan is physically very weak and needs constant attention ...however she still jokes with us every once in a while. she needs your prayers to keep her mentally and spiritually strong..so please keep praying!

Update

2006-04-26T20:55:00.000+08:00

Hi all,

The exact venue for Joan's mass has been changed from the AVA room to the church canteen to accomodate more people.

Joan might not attend the mass, depending on her condition that morning itself.

2006-04-26T19:57:00.000+08:00

hi all

Joan is currently resting in the comfort of her home, with family, close friends and her cat, eddie.

She is no longer on any medication for cancer, but requires painkillers and occassionally uses a respirator to aid breathing.

Her doctor visits her regularly, and so do her priests.

Please continue to pray for her!

joan's song

2006-04-25T22:21:00.000+08:00

joan pls dont go
there are many things that i would like to know
thats getting hard for you to show
the way day by day
we've travelled miles and miles through deep turnstiles
so many softball slides and daffodils
and played

though it hurts
though you smile
looking back right now
i dont really care
just want you to know
that ive been thinking about you almost everyday
until i find the words to say
but now
just want you to know
that ive been thinking about you nearly everyday
until i find the words to say
i know youre hurting now
but we'll make it through somehow
wont we joan

joan say you'll stay
there are many things that i would like to say
that i forgot to mention yesterday
the way day by day
we've travelled miles and miles through deep turnstiles
so many softball slides and daffodils
and played

now it hurts
though you smile
looking back right now
i dont really care just want you to know
that ive been thinking of you nearly everyday
until i find the words to say
now just want you to know
that ive been thinking about you nearly everyday
until i find the words to say
i know youre hurting now
but we'll make it through somehow

wont we joan
wont we joan
just soldier on (x3)
wont we joan-oh-oh-ohh
wont we joan

Venue for Joan's Mass

2006-04-25T13:52:00.000+08:00

This is the exact location of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea where the mass for Joan Chan Shufang will be held. (Please refer to post below)

2006-04-25T13:49:00.000+08:00

during her secondary school days

before the first operation

2006-04-25T13:23:00.000+08:00

after her first operation

her room

A photo taken of Joan about 2 months back

2006-04-25T09:46:00.000+08:00

There will be a special Mass for Joan Chan Shufang this Saturday, 29 April 2006, at 9am, at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea (her parish church). It will be held in the AV room on the 4th floor, and should last about 1 hour.

We will be praying for the wellbeing, peace of and strength for Joan and her family through this difficult time. So please come down punctually if you wish to offer a prayer for Joan. It is okay if you're not Catholic.

The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea is located at 10 Yishun Street 22 (S)768579, between apartment blocks 265, 274, 275 and 276. The nearest MRT station is NS13 YISHUN. Take TIBS 800/804 from Yishun Bus interchange which is next to the MRT and Northpoint. Buses to Yishun Ring Road, on the road of the side of the Library: TIBS 520, TIBS 800, TIBS 804, TIBS NR1 Buses to Yishun Ring Road, on the opposite side of the road to the Library: SBS 162M, TIBS 520, TIBS 800, TIBS 804, TIBS NR1. Get off at the stop next to the Yishun Community Library/Sembawang Town Council (Yishun Branch), the church is behind the library. There is a small carpark in the Church compound, but you can also park your car at the HDB carparks in the vicinity of the Church.

There will also be a collection during the Mass, and the funds collected will go towards the Trust that will be set up in Joan's name.

If you wish to attend the mass and require more details please leave a comment.
if not, feel free to turn up and pray for Joan.

2006-04-24T18:24:00.000+08:00

hey this is a blog set up by shufang's friends from rgs ncc.
from now on, we'll use this site to keep everyone updated on shufang. if there's anything you guys wish to let shufang know, we'll gladly pass the message on to her. and if there's anything you want to know, leave a comment and we'll try to answer it as soon as possible.

on a side note, please refrain from smsing/calling shufang because she needs rest and doesn't constantly check her phone.
and she says she appreciates very much the flowers and gifts that you are giving her, but she doesn't really need any thing material at this point in time, so if you guys want to help, she would rather you guys donate to the trust fund set up in her name.

we will post up details on how to donate to the trust fund soon.